News, Events, and Announcements for Patrons and Friends of the D & R Canal, New Jersey

Friday, December 4, 2009

New Life for the Barracks

It was September 1999 when Hurricane Floyd blew through New Jersey. Towns along the D & R Canal were inundated with water from New Brunswick to Trenton and many sites along the way were devastated. Among them was the well-loved "Muletenders Barracks" in Griggstown. The building suffered major damage as the flood waters rose covering the entire first floor of the structure. That fall the building was closed and has remained so ever since.

Local Griggstown residents, friends organizations and park users were determined to see the building restored and mounted a campaign to that end. Letters were written, articles were published and phone calls galore were made and although ten years have passed, those determined efforts will soon be rewarded.

This past spring the daunting effort to re-purpose the heavily damaged building was begun. The interior was gutted and a new open, more flood resistant interior began to take shape. A concrete floor was poured, electrical outlets raised and all HVAC systems were moved from the crawlspace basement up to the second floor. The end result will no doubt please all those who dreamed of someday seeing the Barracks resurrected.

Work is still in progress but soon the contractors will complete their part and the building that has stood on the Griggstown Causeway since the canal's construction (and perhaps longer) will stand ready to begin the next chapter of its story. The Park hopes to celebrate this milestone sometime next year with a proper "coming-out" party so make sure to check back to our site often for updates, details and news!

I remember growing up on River Road, in the Wykoff/Cortelyou house my father, Albert Kohut restored. I used to play around Tornquist's store, and was invited in for cookies by an elderly resident of the Barracks. This was over 50 years ago, so I don't remember much, but I do remember the little, damp rooms, and I think I remember a small fireplace in one of the rooms.

I remember the wavy glass in the windows, but back then, that wasn't strange; most of the older houses had that. I remember the lock house, where Sophie Bischoff (now dead I believe in New Hampshire) was the librarian: that was the only library around, until you got to Princeton. It was a one room library, with shelves all around and a small desk in the middle for Sophie. I read all of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys novels there, and actually there wasn't too much literature, except for some poetry books.

I am glad to see that the Barracks has been restored, but I remember them as small apartments back then.

Thank you for taking the time to comment on the MTB! I am always looking for information about the structure and especially it's previous life as a small apartment building. If you ever want to share more about the Barracks, Griggstown or your memories of the canal, please reach out to the park historian. Your memories will be safe guarded and passed along to others who are anxious to learn about the area.

About Us

The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park is one of NJ's most popular destination for hiking, biking, kayaking, birding and outdoor activity. Beyond its 70+ miles of historic towpath/rail trails, the D&R Canal also offers patrons a number of natural and historical resources, including 160 species of birds, wooden bridges, canal locks, historic bridge & canal houses, and former mill sites. The park can be enjoyed individually or at one of the many nature and history relate programs that are offered throughout the year by the park's naturalist and historian. Check the blog frequently to stay updated with events, news, and announcements!
For more information about canal resources and history, visit our website: www.dandrcanal.com.
Contact the main park office in Kingston at (609) 924-5705 or the Bulls Island Office north of Stockton at (609)397-2949.